Discover The Shadows of Asphodel series by Karen Kincy

Book Review
The Shadows of Asphodel series
by Karen Kincy

Back in August of 2015, I read Clockwork Menagerie, a Shadows of Asphodel novella. I was enchanted with Karen Kincy’s writing and steaminess of the love story presented in just a few short pages. I immediately got my hands on the two novels in the series and then left them on my virtual bookshelf until #COYER Blackout.

After finishing book one, Shadows of Asphodel, I immediately asked myself, “Why the hell did I wait so long to read this?!” This alternate WWI history with mechs and magic is right up my alley and reminded me of a grown up version of the Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld.

I grew to love Ardis, the main female protagonist, and her independent ways and ideas. Her relationship with Wendel (what a delightfully unusual name!) is hot and steamy and doesn’t require any commitment. It is a refreshing change of pace and one I quite enjoyed.

However, by the end of book two, Storms of Lazarus I was cursing Kincy and the dramatic uncharacteristic change that happens between the two characters. This change, due to my own personal life choices, made me angry. And as a reader, the change upset me because it seems to go against EVERYTHING that Ardis and Wendel thought and said to that point.

Overall, between books one and two, I enjoyed the action and intrigue with the alternate historical fiction twist. But the two characters, whom I admired the most and were the main reason I kept reading, quickly became characters that I disliked partway into book two. In the end, I wasn’t happy with the series at all.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

About Karen Kincy

Karen Kincy (Kirkland, Washington) can be found lurking in her writing cave, though sunshine will lure her outside. When not writing, she stays busy gardening, tinkering with aquariums, or running just one more mile. Karen has a BA in Linguistics and Literature from The Evergreen State College.